A Not-So-Every-Day Romance

Summary:
I originally wrote this for the Odd Ship Challenge, but since Kaiwynn said we could post it... Jake has recently become my favorite character, and I began this story before that happened. Angela has always been my faovrite one of Bella's normal friends, so it was only natural that I put them together, especially since I couldn't bear to separate any of the real couples. Angela discovers the truth about the Cullens, and about the guy she's in love with. Could it really be true? And what happens when she finds out that Bella wants to be a vampire? Can she come to terms with everything and keep the people who have come to mean so much to her, or will their relationships crumble to dust? There is a sequel now posted: A Pretty Strange Love Story. Look it up!

10. Quality Time

Angela shrieked, and I shoved her towards Emily. “Hold her!” I yelled, and then made the change myself.

My super sensitive hearing caught her stifled shriek, but I couldn’t dwell on it. I had to focus of shoving Paul into the woods. We fought for a while, until Sam came and separated us.

*Paul, what did you think you were doing! You transformed way too close to Emily and Angela. Angela was shaking when I left! And Jake, you should have let one of the rest of us handle it. It just made it worse for Angela when you shoved her aside and phased on the dime there. *

* Sorry. I just couldn’t stop. *

* Whatever. Let’s go. *

I started to change back, but Sam stopped me.

*No Jake. If Angela’s going to start hanging out around here, and she really loves you, she’s going to have to get used to seeing you as a wolf. Emily did, and now I can be a wolf any time. *

*She’s already scared! *

*That’s an order. *

Well, that was it. Sam, the alpha wolf, had given an order, and I had to obey. I was going to have to face Angela as a wolf.

We walked slowly back to Emily’s. When we could see them, I noticed Angela with her head on her knees, with Emily whispering reassurances in her ear. Angela really was shaking.

Emily looked up, and then smiled when she saw us coming towards her. She left Angela’s side, and walked towards Sam. She sat down by his front paws, and he lightly placed his right one on her shoulder.

Then, much to Emily’s dismay, he licked her face. “Ew! Sam, that’s disgusting!” She pushed his snout away gently.

* Go towards her slowly. * He ordered.

*Crawl if it calms her down. *

So I got down and crawled towards her, whining gently. Angela looked up, her face pale with terror. “Jake?” She whispered.

Hesitantly, she reached out a hand, and laid it on my head gently. I shook my head back and forth, being playful. Then I remembered she was still scared, and I held absolutely still.

“You’re kind of cute.” She laughed. I laid my head on her lap, and she jumped half a mile. I heard Emily laugh from the side.

“Jake, you scared me! Why did you go after him like that? It was scary!” Angela said, still sounding scared.

I whined my apology, and licked her hand. She stared at me. “Yuck.” She finally said, and wiped her hand on her skirt.

“Sam, can the rest of us change? I want to run.” Quil begged. Quil was the only one of us who really loved being a wolf.

Angela shivered again as Sam nodded his majestic head.

* She needs to get used to it. You want her to be able to stay, right? * Sam told me.

Quil jumped up and pulled off his shirt and shoes, and phased. The others did too, only less enthusiastically.

Angela cringed away from us all. I whined softly, and sat back on my haunches right beside her. Gently, I nosed her hair. She smiled skittishly, and knotted her fingers in my fur. Embry came a little closer, but Angela hid her face in my neck.

* Give her some time first. * I told him. I did not want him frightening her off. He backed off, but growled as he did. Angela clenched my fur tighter.

“Angela, its just Embry. Please don’t be scared.” Emily tried to reassure her.

Angela looked up slowly, and her pale face scared me. She was terrified.

“I’m sorry I’m such a coward,” she whispered. I growled at her, baring my teeth. She drew back, not understanding what I was doing.

“He was telling you that you aren’t a coward. You’re doing a lot better than I did the first time Sam did this. I screamed and barricaded myself inside. Sam had to change back and reassure me that it was still him. When I let him in, he changed back, and I just sat there, scared out of my wits.”

Angela laughed softly. “Oh, I’m scared out of my wits all right. I just trust Jake, I guess.” She stroked my head softly as she said this. “I love you,” she whispered, loud enough only for me to hear.

* Can I change back now? I don’t want to push her too far. *

* Yeah, I guess you’re right. Lets go. *

I freed myself carefully from Angela’s arms, and followed his tail into the woods. We phased into our human forms easily, and put our clothes back on.

I was the first one done, so I was the first one back into the yard. Angela and Emily were nowhere to be seen, but I could hear Emily’s booming laugh and Angela’s shy one coming from inside the cottage. I followed the sound, and found them sitting at the kitchen table.

“Hey guys.” I said. “What’s so funny?”

Emily gave Angela a look, and Angela said, “Funny? Nothing. We were just sitting here.”

I gave her a disbelieving look, but all she did was laugh. “There are muffins on the counter. You can get them while they’re warm. What’s taking them so long?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. They’ll be in shortly, I’m sure.” I popped a muffin in my mouth, and grabbed a few more. “Sheesh, Jake. Hungry?”

“Starving. I didn’t eat breakfast. I was too nervous.” I slapped my hand over my mouth. Where had that come from? I wasn’t supposed to tell Angela, or Emily, that.

“Nervous about what?” Angela asked warily.

I shook my head. “Nothing. Never mind.” Luckily for me, the rest of them came trudging through the door at that moment.

“Muffins!” Jared exclaimed, and helped himself to a few.

When we were all settled at the table eating, Sam addressed Angela. “So, what… Why do you do that? It’s really annoying.”

Angela looked at him innocently. “Do what?”

“Flinch whenever I talk to you. You don’t do that when anyone else talks to you. Why me?” Angela looked down.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said, not meeting his eyes.

“Are you ready to go home? We can go eat, and I can drop you at home.” She nodded, and stood.

“It’s been really nice meeting you all. Good bye.” She walked out the door.

I bit my lip, not sure what to do. “I’ll see you guys later," I said finally, and followed Angela outside.

She was waiting by the car. When she looked up at me with sad eyes, it was more than I could take. I pulled her to me, and timidly, I pressed my lips to hers. What I wasn’t prepared for, though, was her reaction. She leaned into me, deepening the kiss. We leaned against each other, panting when it was over. “We better go. I’m hungry,” she said breathlessly. I nodded, not trusting myself to speak yet. I got in the car, and started the engine.

On the way to Patty’s, I talked. “Angela, I’m really sorry about that. I had no idea Sam would make me stay a wolf. I’ve never done it like that before, and I’m really sorry.” She looked at me with those loving eyes, and smiled a forgiving smile. “It’s fine. I’m going to have to get used to you like that. There were just so many of you, and you were so big, it was hard to remember that you were you. I’ll get better, I promise.” She laced her fingers through my free hand, and squeezed. “I love you, so I’ll adjust.” I could only stare at her. “Uhh, Jake? The road? Please watch the road!!” I tore my gaze away from her, and made myself focus on driving.

When we got to Patty’s, I parked and looked at her again. “You were amazing. You didn’t shriek or back away from me. It just made me love you that much more. You’re mine now, and I don’t ever plan on letting you go.”

“I’m glad. I don’t ever plan on leaving, either.”

We ate quickly, and left. She was worried that her father would get home before she did, and she would get in trouble. When we got to her home, though, something far worse than her father was waiting.